THE HEATHER 163 



to search a long time for a perfect sprig of rose- 

 and-white. 



Of sprawling and somewhat slovenly habit, it 

 presents a frequent dishevelled washed-out ap- 

 pearance. Under the most favourable circum- 

 stances, like many another rose-and-white beauty, 

 it looks better at a distance. 



The hue of the opposite hill-slope, extending far 

 and wide on either side, is not rose, but purple. 

 This purple form is the next to flower, and seems 

 to be the only one some people know. The sole 

 talk we hear is of purple heather, as if all heather 

 must be the same. Now, purple is not very 

 common, and this is the only native species of that 

 colour. 



The association of purple with heather is a very 

 natural one, and doubtless owes its origin to the 

 fact that this species lends the delightful autumn 

 glow to the hill-slopes, just at the very time when 

 the tourist is on the alert and all the world is 

 in the Highlands. Whereas the delicate rose of 

 the bell heather appeals only to those who are as 

 near as I am now, the mass and glow of the 

 purple is caught from the glen, even by those who 

 are many miles away, 



He has enjoyed a rare privilege who has seen 



